Callejeros
Encyclopedia
Callejeros was an Argentine rock
band that gained notoriety when the nightclub where they were playing, República Cromagnon, was set on fire during one of its shows, killing 194 attendees, in 2004.
. They were known initially as Río Verde ("Green River") and mostly played covers of Chuck Berry
, Creedence Clearwater Revival
and Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota
. At the end of 1996 the band changed its lineup and recruited new members. Given the extensive change to the original group, in January 1997, they changed their name to Callejeros. A new guitarist and a saxophonist came into the band between late 1999 and early 2000, and it is with this lineup that Callejeros recorded the three albums it has released to date.
In 2001 they recorded their first album, Sed ("Thirst"), in which they followed the rock format they had kept for years, but with the participation of sax player Juan Carbone, former member of Viejas Locas. A single came out of this album, Vicioso, jugador y mujeriego, and a video was made for it, but did not see much TV airtime.
Their second album, Presión ("Pressure"), also self-released, came out in 2003. It was premiered with a show at the Atlanta football stadium
in Buenos Aires and it included fourteen songs, ranging in style from tango
, ballad
, rhythms of candombe
(black music from Uruguay) and Latin rock up to classic rock'n'roll. This record made their name known in almost all the country and, to some degree, in Latin America. Not long after the release of the album the first single, Una nueva noche fría ("A New Cold Night"), was aired on radio and music TV stations during several months.
After playing at the Obras Sanitarias Stadium
, known in Buenos Aires as the "temple of rock", in 2004, it seemed as if the band would reach far, because of the growth in such a short time. In a 6 months' span they went from drawing 1,000 people or less to play in 5,000 capacity arenas.
In late 2004 they released their third album, Rocanroles sin destino ("Rock'n'rolls Without a Destiny"). It did not had the "power" of previous albums, but more attention went into describing themselves, their lives, their career as musicians and the conflicts that fame brings. The album was played live twice: first, in Córdoba
, before 10,000 people, and then, in the Excursionistas football stadium with an audience of almost 15,000 people.
, when a flare set the roof on fire. The club was crowded and the emergency exits had been (illegally) locked. The fire spread and eventually killed 194 people, mostly due to burning of the respiratory tract
and inhalation of carbon monoxide
. Among the dead spectators were relatives of several band members, as well as the band manager's wife and the lead singer's girlfriend.
The band was investigated by the authorities regarding their responsibility for the tragedy, since it was well-known that the audience frequently made use of pyrotechnic devices during their shows, though in this case Callejeros had asked them not to, to no avail.
In April 2011, the six band members were convicted of murder.
In May 2006 the band released their fourth album, Señales ("Signs"), which sold 20,000 copies on its release day. The band signed a contract with Pelo Music and had both previous albums re-released (Sed and Presión) by this company.
On 6 July 2006, Callejeros appeared without prior announcement during a concert by the band Jóvenes Pordioseros in El Teatro, a club in Flores. The band had previously agreed not to go onstage, and the show was suspended by the management of the club. Later, some of the victims' relatives expressed mixed opinions; some claimed that the band "had the right to play" because there was no judicial order to keep them from doing so, while others called it "a mistake" or claimed that "they should be in prison".
Until this day, the band has played 5 more times, always outside Buenos Aires
city, since the tragedy. The last one, in Olavarria, Buenos Aires Province
.
The single off this album, Una nueva noche fría (Another cold night) received wide airplay on radio and music TV, from its release in August 2004 until the beginning of January 2005, when it was essentially boycotted due to the Cromagnon nightclub fire.
Argentine rock
Argentine rock , is composed or made by Argentine bands or artists, in the Spanish language. For nearly half a century it has been a major popular genre, and it is considered part of the popular music tradition of Argentina alongside Argentine Tango, and Argentine folk music.The moment when...
band that gained notoriety when the nightclub where they were playing, República Cromagnon, was set on fire during one of its shows, killing 194 attendees, in 2004.
History
The band was formed in mid-1995 by a group of young people of Villa Celina, Greater Buenos AiresGreater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires is the generic denomination to refer to the megalopolis comprising the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the conurbation around it, over the province of Buenos Aires—namely the adjacent 24 partidos or municipalities—which nonetheless do not constitute a single administrative...
. They were known initially as Río Verde ("Green River") and mostly played covers of Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
and Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota
Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota
Patricio Rey y Sus Redonditos de Ricota were an independent rock band originally from La Plata, Argentina whose tours in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s drew a cult-like following....
. At the end of 1996 the band changed its lineup and recruited new members. Given the extensive change to the original group, in January 1997, they changed their name to Callejeros. A new guitarist and a saxophonist came into the band between late 1999 and early 2000, and it is with this lineup that Callejeros recorded the three albums it has released to date.
In 2001 they recorded their first album, Sed ("Thirst"), in which they followed the rock format they had kept for years, but with the participation of sax player Juan Carbone, former member of Viejas Locas. A single came out of this album, Vicioso, jugador y mujeriego, and a video was made for it, but did not see much TV airtime.
Their second album, Presión ("Pressure"), also self-released, came out in 2003. It was premiered with a show at the Atlanta football stadium
Club Atlético Atlanta
Club Atlético Atlanta is an Argentine sports club from Buenos Aires. Nicknamed Los Bohemios , its football team won the 2010/11 Primera B Metropolitana championship and promoted to the Primera B Nacional for the 2011/12 season.-History:The club was founded on October the 12th, 1904 in Buenos...
in Buenos Aires and it included fourteen songs, ranging in style from tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
, ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, rhythms of candombe
Candombe
Candombe is a musical genre that has its roots in the African Bantu, and is proper of Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil .Uruguayan Candombe is the most practiced and spread internationally and has been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity...
(black music from Uruguay) and Latin rock up to classic rock'n'roll. This record made their name known in almost all the country and, to some degree, in Latin America. Not long after the release of the album the first single, Una nueva noche fría ("A New Cold Night"), was aired on radio and music TV stations during several months.
After playing at the Obras Sanitarias Stadium
Arena Obras Sanitarias
Arena Obras Sanitarias, also known as Estadio Obras Sanitarias is an indoor arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Built in 1978, it holds 3,030 people, and 4,700 for concerts....
, known in Buenos Aires as the "temple of rock", in 2004, it seemed as if the band would reach far, because of the growth in such a short time. In a 6 months' span they went from drawing 1,000 people or less to play in 5,000 capacity arenas.
In late 2004 they released their third album, Rocanroles sin destino ("Rock'n'rolls Without a Destiny"). It did not had the "power" of previous albums, but more attention went into describing themselves, their lives, their career as musicians and the conflicts that fame brings. The album was played live twice: first, in Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
, before 10,000 people, and then, in the Excursionistas football stadium with an audience of almost 15,000 people.
The República Cromañón fire
The night of December 30, 2004, the band was playing a concert at the club República CromagnonRepública Cromagnon nightclub fire
República Cromañón was a nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina.On 30 December 2004, a fire broke out in the club, killing 194 people and injuring 714 others. The venue was playing host to rock group Callejeros and around 3,000 people were in attendance...
, when a flare set the roof on fire. The club was crowded and the emergency exits had been (illegally) locked. The fire spread and eventually killed 194 people, mostly due to burning of the respiratory tract
Respiratory system
The respiratory system is the anatomical system of an organism that introduces respiratory gases to the interior and performs gas exchange. In humans and other mammals, the anatomical features of the respiratory system include airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles...
and inhalation of carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
. Among the dead spectators were relatives of several band members, as well as the band manager's wife and the lead singer's girlfriend.
The band was investigated by the authorities regarding their responsibility for the tragedy, since it was well-known that the audience frequently made use of pyrotechnic devices during their shows, though in this case Callejeros had asked them not to, to no avail.
In April 2011, the six band members were convicted of murder.
The return
After República Cromagnon, Callejeros did not play for a long time, first due to their own decision, and then because of the opposition from the victims of the fire.In May 2006 the band released their fourth album, Señales ("Signs"), which sold 20,000 copies on its release day. The band signed a contract with Pelo Music and had both previous albums re-released (Sed and Presión) by this company.
On 6 July 2006, Callejeros appeared without prior announcement during a concert by the band Jóvenes Pordioseros in El Teatro, a club in Flores. The band had previously agreed not to go onstage, and the show was suspended by the management of the club. Later, some of the victims' relatives expressed mixed opinions; some claimed that the band "had the right to play" because there was no judicial order to keep them from doing so, while others called it "a mistake" or claimed that "they should be in prison".
Until this day, the band has played 5 more times, always outside Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
city, since the tragedy. The last one, in Olavarria, Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
.
The second trial
In April 2011 an appeals court retried them, and found the members of the band guilty, sentencing them to 11 years in prison each.Members
- Pato (Patricio Santos Fontanet): Vocals
- Dios (Christian Torrejón): Bass
- Elio (Elio Delgado): Guitars
- Maxi (Maximiliano Djerfy): Guitars
- Edu (Eduardo Vázquez): Drums
- Juancho (Juan Carbone): Sax
Solo x hoy (Demo), 1997
This is a demo made up of 11 songs in cassette format, recorded with a 4-track between the months of July 1997 and August 1997. Now few copies of the tape exist.LADO A
- Durmiendo en la seccional
- Bufón
- Lejos del cielo
- Pichones
- Zapatos muy grandes
- Vivo en mi ilusión
Callejeros (Demo), 1998
Independent production composed by 13 songs with greater variety of styles. It was recorded and mixed in WC Recording Studio in October 1998. This work stood out by to have sold more than 600 copies of same between cassettes and the CD.- Pichones
- Puñales
- No volvieron más
- Brillan los fantasmas
- Armar de nuevo
- Milonga rocanrol
- No somos nadie
- Ancho de espadas
- One after 909 (LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
-McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) - Lejos del cielo (Folk tradicional)
- Un monarca
- La cuadra
- Brillan los fantasmas (Versión lenta)
Adelantos (Demo), 2000
As the name says it well (Advances), this he is demo made up of 7 songs that came playing in shows. So that people knew them was made east registry, engraving in one portaestudio of 4 channels during the month of June 2000.Sed, 2001
It is made up of 12 songs, of which 4 are from the Adelantos cassette and 1, Milonga rocanrol, is from Callejeros. In addition, it is the first registry of the band in which saxo is included. The disc was recorded, mixed and masterized in El Matadero records in October 2001. It is worth noting that this was a totally independent production.- Los invisibles
- Rompiendo espejos
- El nudo
- Milonga del rocanrol
- Jugando
- Vicioso, jugador y mujeriego
- Palo borracho
- Sonando
- Tiempo de estar
- Teatro
- Sed
- Ojalá se los lleve
Presión, 2003
In March 2003 the band released their second album, Presión (Pressure), again in totally independent form, on the El Matadero records label.The single off this album, Una nueva noche fría (Another cold night) received wide airplay on radio and music TV, from its release in August 2004 until the beginning of January 2005, when it was essentially boycotted due to the Cromagnon nightclub fire.
- Otro viento mejor
- Presión
- Tres
- Una nueva noche fría
- Fantasía y realidad
- Morir
- Cristal
- Imposible
- Callejero de Boedo
- Si me cansé
- Ahogados de razón
- Tiempo perdido
- El duende del árbol
- Ilusión
Rocanroles sin destino, 2004
- Distinto
- Sé que no sé
- Sería una pena
- Algo peor, algo mejor
- Rebelde, agitador y revolucionario
- Un lugar perfecto
- Todo eso
- Prohibido
- Tan perfecto que asusta
- Tratando de olvidar
- Rocanroles sin destino
- La llave
- Parte menor
- Canciones y almas
Señales, 2006
- Daños
- Puede
- Límites
- Creo
- Frente al río
- Sin paciencia
- Día a día
- Sueño
- Hoy
- 9 de Julio
- Señales
- Desencuentro
Disco Escultura, 2008
- Guiños
- El Espejo
- La Canción
- Rehén
- Esa Invisible Linea
- Mas allá
- Quedó
- Siempre un poco más
- El Ignorante
- Lo que hay
- Cancion de Cuna para Julieta
- Si queres que sea yo
- Pompeya